Personal Column

**Who is behind the mysterious advert reading ‘Wife available – what offers?’ What prompted a ‘third girl’ to suddenly pack her bags and leave her flatshare? And when a newly married couple’s honeymoon period comes to an abrupt end, is the wedding dress to blame?** Conceived by respected writer Philip Levene, whose writing credits include 19 episodes of ITV’s The Avengers, these ten full-cast dramas read between the lines of newspaper personal ads to tell captivating tales of the human condition – each with an unexpected twist. The stories range from a rookie blackmailer who learns the pitfalls of the business and a husband and wife who get more than they bargain for when they try to sell some old jewellery, to a lonely librarian who hires a personal escort for an important date and a dodgy insurance broker who takes drastic measures to try and avoid exposure. Written by esteemed TV scriptwriters and starring a host of well-known names including Carole Boyd, Bernard Horsfall, Anne Stallybrass, George Cole and Wendy Craig, this entertaining and varied anthology is a treasure trove from the golden age of radio. This series of vintage radio plays was first broadcast on the BBC Light Programme, 20 March – 25 September 1967. Episodes: Findings Keepings by Philip Levene Evening Out by Jill Hyem No Square Deal by Eddie Maguire Third Girl Wanted by Jill Hyem Off to a Good Start by Dawn Pavitt & Terry Wale What Am I Bid? by Eddie Maguire Home and Away by Dawn Pavitt & Terry Wale Time for a Coat by Andrew Sachs This Column Every Friday by Arnold Yarrow The Companion by Philip Levene © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd